JUST SOLD - IN CONTRACT IN UNDER 2 WEEKS!
This home had previously been on the market for 3 months with another agent and did not sell. When we took over the listing, we implemented a strategic refresh and repositioned the property to appeal to today’s buyer.
We guided the seller in making a few cost-effective yet high-impact updates that transformed the home’s presentation and market response. With proper pricing and a strategic marketing plan, we launched at the right moment during San Francisco’s peak fall market.
The result? We received a full price offer in under 2 weeks. In this post, I’ll share the four key pillars that led to this success + insight homeowners can use to maximize ROI and sell faster in the San Francisco housing market.
1. Home Preparation
The sellers had a specific price in mind for their home, and our goal was to help them achieve it. After walking through the property, we provided a tailored list of recommendations designed to align with their price expectations and generate the highest possible return on investment. From there, the owners chose which updates to move forward with based on their budget and our timeline to debut during the fall market.
Even subtle adjustments — like the brand of appliances, and paint color/finish sheen — can make a tremendous impact on how buyers perceive a home’s quality and overall value.
Email us for the detailed list of the cost-effective yet impactful updates that made the biggest difference in elevating the home’s presentation when our team reintroduced it to the market at [email protected].
2. Timing
Historically, there are two peak selling seasons, spring and fall, when buyer demand is at an all time high and the number of properties go into contract. Timing is everything!
When we met the sellers in August, we immediately recognized we were in a time crunch to prepare the home and launch during the peak of our fall market surge. To stay on track, we built a detailed timeline for each phase — from pre-listing home preparation with vendor schedules through our 3-Phased Marketing Plan.
Every decision was aligned with this timeline to ensure we captured the market at its most active and competitive moment.
Below are graphs highlighting San Francisco’s Market Dynamics and Seasonality.
3. Pricing Strategy
A pricing strategy depends heavily on current market conditions, timing, the property’s features, condition, and comparable sales. It’s important to note that adjusting the price publicly while your home is active can negatively impact perception and trigger buyer hesitation.
We tested the price off-market and gathered valuable feedback before launching it to the public market.
Attached below is a full picture of 302 Warren's time on the market.
In Forest Knolls, a niche neighborhood with few sales over $2M, pricing just under $3M represented transparent and strategic positioning.
If you have a specific price in mind for your property, our team can quietly test it off-market to gauge interest without risking public price drops that can hurt momentum.
4. Marketing
Our 3-Phase Marketing Strategy (Compass Private Exclusive → Coming Soon → Active) is designed to build momentum before a home hits the market. Just as top brands test products before launch, listing your home not once, but three times allows us to test pricing, gather feedback, and create early demand—all without the risk of public price adjustments.
We take marketing beyond standard exposure. For 302 Warren, we ran a COMING SOON targeted digital ad campaign across Google, Instagram, and Facebook, generating 7,980 impressions and 62 clicks before the home was listed on the open market. That’s nearly 8k new eyes on the property building anticipation for its official launch.
We developed an experience that went beyond a traditional listing launch. From a luxury brochure that buyers hold onto, to a neighborhood map that reframed walkability perceptions of the Forest Knolls neighborhood, to a bespoke video with voiceover narration that showcased the home’s high ceilings and natural light — every marketing asset was designed to make a lasting impression and tell the home’s story.
See below how our marketing outperforms a traditional launch.
Watch the 302 Warren Dr. Listing Video below.
The Takeaway
The sale of 302 Warren is an example of how strategy, timing, and presentation come together to create success. By focusing on strategic pricing, thoughtful preparation, precise timing, and elevated marketing, we transformed a home that once sat unsold into a highly desirable property that went in contract in under two weeks.
If you’re considering selling, let’s design a plan tailored to your goals — one that maximizes your return and makes your home the next neighborhood success story.
Beverly Barnett, Luxury Property Specialist
415.302.9052 | [email protected]
Compass DRE #01301989
